1 Samuel 1

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 1

1¶ Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

2And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there.

4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?

9¶ So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

10And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more [sad].

19¶ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.

21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, [I will not go up] until the child be weaned, and [then] I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child [was] young.

25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Elkanah, a man of Ephraim, had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Hannah was barren and deeply distressed, especially by Peninnah's provocation. She prayed fervently at Shiloh, vowing to dedicate any son granted to her to the Lord's service. The Lord remembered Hannah, and she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Samuel. After weaning him, she faithfully brought Samuel to Shiloh and presented him to Eli, dedicating him to the Lord as promised.

Medium Summary

The chapter introduces Elkanah, who annually traveled to Shiloh to worship the Lord. He had two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, whom he loved but was barren because the Lord had shut up her womb. Hannah was greatly afflicted by her barrenness and Peninnah's constant provocation, leading her to weep and refuse to eat. In her bitterness of soul, Hannah prayed earnestly to the Lord at Shiloh, vowing that if she were granted a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life. Eli the priest initially mistook her silent, fervent prayer for drunkenness but, upon her explanation, blessed her. Subsequently, the Lord remembered Hannah, and she conceived and bore a son, naming him Samuel, meaning 'asked of the Lord.' After Samuel was weaned, Hannah fulfilled her solemn vow, bringing the young child to Shiloh and presenting him to Eli, dedicating him to the Lord's perpetual service.

Long Summary

The narrative commences with Elkanah, an Ephrathite from Ramathaim-zophim, who faithfully ascended yearly to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the LORD of hosts, where Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as priests. Elkanah had two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, whom he loved dearly but was barren, for 'the LORD had shut up her womb.' During their annual pilgrimage, Elkanah would distribute portions of the sacrifice, giving a 'worthy portion' to Hannah due to his affection. However, Peninnah continually provoked Hannah 'sore, for to make her fret,' because of her barrenness, causing Hannah profound distress, weeping, and refusal to eat. Elkanah attempted to comfort Hannah, questioning her sorrow and reminding her of his love. In her bitterness of soul, Hannah rose after the meal and poured out her heart in fervent prayer to the LORD at the temple, weeping profusely. She made a solemn vow, promising that if the LORD would grant her a 'man child,' she would 'give him unto the LORD all the days of his life,' with 'no razor come upon his head,' signifying a Nazirite-like dedication. Eli the priest observed her praying silently, only her lips moving, and mistakenly concluded she was drunken, admonishing her. Hannah respectfully clarified, explaining she was a woman of a 'sorrowful spirit' who had poured out her soul before the LORD. Understanding her plight, Eli blessed her, saying, 'Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.' Hannah's countenance brightened, and she ate, no longer sad. Early the next morning, they worshipped and returned home to Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah, and 'the LORD remembered her.' In due time, Hannah conceived and bore a son, naming him Samuel, explaining, 'Because I have asked him of the LORD.' When Elkanah went up for the yearly sacrifice, Hannah did not accompany him, stating she would wait until Samuel was weaned before bringing him to appear before the LORD and abide there forever. Elkanah agreed, and Hannah nursed Samuel until he was weaned. Upon weaning, she brought the young child to Shiloh with appropriate sacrifices, presenting him to Eli, confirming that he was the child for whom she had prayed and declaring, 'Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.'

Core Concepts

  • Barrenness and AfflictionHannah's inability to conceive children, attributed to the Lord having 'shut up her womb,' caused her deep emotional distress and made her a target of provocation from Peninnah, driving her to fervent prayer.
  • Vows and DedicationHannah makes a solemn vow to the Lord, promising to dedicate her future son to His service 'all the days of his life' if her petition for a child is granted, including a Nazirite-like commitment with 'no razor come upon his head'.
  • Prayer and SupplicationThe chapter highlights Hannah's intense and heartfelt prayer, where she pours out her soul to the Lord in bitterness and sorrow, demonstrating a direct and personal communion with God, even when misunderstood by others.
  • Divine RemembranceAfter Hannah's prayer and Eli's blessing, the text states, 'the LORD remembered her,' indicating God's active intervention and favor in granting her conception, signifying divine attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted.
  • Fulfillment of PromiseHannah faithfully fulfills her vow by bringing the young Samuel to Shiloh after weaning him, presenting him to Eli, and formally dedicating him to the Lord's perpetual service in the temple, demonstrating her commitment and obedience.
  • Eli's Pastoral RoleEli, the high priest, initially misunderstands Hannah's fervent, silent prayer, mistaking it for drunkenness. However, upon her explanation, he offers a blessing that precedes the Lord's remembrance of Hannah, playing a significant pastoral role in her story.
  • Samuel's NameThe name Samuel is explicitly explained as 'Because I have asked him of the LORD,' directly linking his existence to Hannah's petition and God's answer, emphasizing his identity as a child granted through divine intervention.